The man credited with standardizing the parade route and uniting the krewe captains in Jefferson Parish died Sunday at the age of 97.

Henry R. Trapani held several roles during his 28 years of service in Jefferson Parish, officials said in a statement Monday. He became known as "Mr. Mardi Gras" in the parish because of his work coordinating Carnival.

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"The Jefferson Parish community is deeply saddened by the death of a distinguished leader and former administration," the parish said in its statement.

Trapani, a native New Yorker and World War II veteran, made his way to New Orleans in 1968 to manage a department store. He left the retail industry in 1975 when he took a position in the Jefferson Parish Safety Department.

He was unofficially assigned to troubleshooting Jefferson Parish Mardi Gras the next year, officials said. He held the role until 1979, when parish president Doug Allen created the Department of Special Events and Carnival and placed Trapani in charge.

"Mr Trapani began by standardizing the Jefferson Parish route," Hardy said in 1995. "He then moved to unite all krewe captains in Jefferson Parish, holding meetings year-round to keep communication lines flowing."

Trapani held his role with the now Department of Citizens Affairs until his retirement in 2003. The parish said he continued to advise several administrators and also returned in 2006 to temporarily assist as a coordinator of special events.

He returned to retirement in 2007, officials said.

"Most who know me know that my beginning in government began with the guidance and mentoring of Mr. Henry Trapani," parish president Michael Yenni said. "He was a leader, a teacher and one of my dearest friends. The mark he left on Jefferson Parish can be matched by no one."

Trapani was married to his wife, Frances, who died in 2008. They had two daughters. He lived in Metairie until his death.

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